Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-02-06
HISTORIC SWORD,
Tse:Gea ny Captain Reid AZ shs
"Thcrmopyt:r :, OF the ocean.

A Washington letter says: There has
lain upon the desk of the President Tor
some time plain steel-scabbarded
sword, old-fashioned in style, aud scr
yiceeble rather than elegant, slightly
curved, somewhat battered, and gem
orally q weapon that looks rs though 1t
had seen service. And ii has and ser
vice, too, in one of the most heroic ac-
tons described in the pages OF Amerl-
can history. A day or two ago the Presl-
dent sent this sword 10 Congress, and 1t
will probably become the duty OF the
National Museum, in which so many
other valuable relics are deposited, to
give il place in which it may be seen
in company with sketch of the hero
and the heroic contest that makes 1t
sacred
The presentation to Congress.
through the President, 10y Colonel
Samuel G. Reid, of this battle-sabre OF
his father, the late Captain Samue!
Chester Reid, who commanded the
United States private-Rrmed brig-ot-
war General Armstrong at the battle
OF Fayal, in September, 1914, Is excuse
enough for reyiving some incidents
which have passed ont of mind. The
Armstrong was little brig of but 2lO
tons, carrying but z guns and 10
men. She was attacked in the neutral
waters of the Azore islands by British
SQUADRON, consisting of the ship
of-the-line Plantagenet, the frlgate
Botn, and the slOop-of-war Car
nation. with a total amount of l36
guns and 2, 900 men. The British lost
over 800 of their picked men and oth-
GERS in killed and wounded, while the
Armstrong lost but two killed and seven
wounded. The action has well been
called the "Thermopyle of the
Ocean," for no naval battle in ancient
or modern history is comparable with
that of the Armstrong at Fayal, either
as to the unequal forces engaged, the
myielding and inflexible bravery OF
her officers and crew, nor rs to tho
grand results which followed in the de-
feat Of the British expedition against
Louisiana.
The height of heroism and romantic
chiyalry were displayed by Captain
Reid aud his crew in the last act of this
extraordinary naval drama. After scut-
| ting his vessel to save her from capture
| he went ashore with his mon and arms,
when the commander Of the squadron,
| Admiral Lloyd. demanded their sur
render and threatened to send 500 men
to take them. Reid retired with his
men to an old Gothic convent, which he
| fortified, knocked away the drawbridge,
ran up the American flag, and babe the
enemy defiance. Lloyd quailed under
this last exhibition of heroic courage,
saying they were demons and not men.
The squadron under Lloyd was on
its way to the island OF Jamaica to join
the great fleet assembling there under
Admiral Lord Cochrane, afterward
Earl of Dundonald, who was CONFIDENT
ally intrusted with the secret expedi-
ton for the conquest of Louisiana. The
last hope of England to wrest the CON
troll of the Mississippi river and the
province of Louisiana from France had
been foiled by Napoleon, who, seeing
| that he had no means of protecting 1t
from the conquest of England, coded
il TO the United States in 1903. On the
declaration Of war by the United States
in 1912, England's eyes were once more
turned to the coveted possession, and,
after making a demonstration against
Washington and Baltimore, she assem-
bled her combined fleets, no longer
needed for the blockade of the French
coasts at Negril bay, Jamaica, to carry
out this great design. The crippled
condition Of Lloyd's squadron had Gre
ated delay of over ten days i'll repair.
ing damages, as they were occupied
three DAYS alone in burying their dead.
On the arrival of Lloyd mt Jamaica a
further delay of week took place, Adj
miral Lord Cochrane being furious at
Llovd's disaster, which finally proved
fatal TO the expedition. The fleet did not
arrive off Lake Bosque until four days
after the arrival Of General Jackson
with his forces, which barely gave HIM
time to make defence, 80 that had the
feet arrived ten days sooner. when New
Orleans and the coast was utterly de
fenceless, an easy conquest would have
been made, and once in possession it is
doubtful If the treaty of peace would
have been ratified by England. Thus
it is clearly demonstrated that if Cap
tain Reid had surrendered his vessel
against such an overwhelming force
which he might have done without the
imputation OF cowardice, Louisiana
might to-day he under the flag of St
Geoage
70 Captain Reid is not only due the
credit OF this victory. but its genera
results in saving domain now more
than three times larger than the terri
tory of France, and it is worthy TO be
remembered that this gallant sailor be
came aftervard the designer Of the
present form of the United States flag
as adopted by Congress in 1918. Hi'
name and fame deserve TO be com
memomted, and Congress should show
the gratitude of the people by making
an appropriation for a substantial anC
enduring testimonial TO his bravery anC
usefulness